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JWilitary 0rder of ttie Iloyal mgm of tt^e United jStates 

Head-Quarters, Commandery of the State of Pennsylvania 



I. The following extracts from the Constitution (1881) are pro- 
mulgated in response to a general desire for information in relation to 
the membership and objects of the Order. 



Article 1. — T///e. — This Institution shall be known by the name, style and 
title of The Military Order of the Loyal Legion ok the United States. 

Article IL — Pihuiples. — This Order acknowledges as its fundamental prin- 
ciples: — 

i.st. A firm belief and trust in Almighty God, extolling Him under whose bene- 
ficent guidance the sovereignty and integrity of the Union have been maintained, the 
honour of the Flag vindicated, and the blessing of Civil Liberty secured, established 
and enlarged. 

2nd. True allegiance to the United States of America, based upon a paramount 
respect for, and fidelity to the National Constitution and Laws, manife.sted by the 
discountenancing of whatever may tend to weaken loyalty, incite to in.surrection, 
treason or rebellion, or in any manner to impair the efficiency and permanency of our 
Free Institutions. 

Article III. — Objecls. — The Objects of this Order shall be, to cherish the 
memories and associations of the war waged in defence of the unity and indivisibility 
of the Republic; to strengthen the ties of fraternal fellowship and sympathy formed 
from companionship-in-arms; to advance the best interest of the soldiers and sailors 
of the United States, especially of those associated as members of this Order, and to 
extend all possible relief to their widows and children ; to foster the cultivation of 
Military and Naval Science; to enforce unqualfied allegiance to the General Govern- 
ment ; to protect the rights and liberties of American citizenship, and to maintain 
National Honour, Union and Independence. 



Article V. — Members. — The Members, or CoDtpanious, of this Order shall be 
of three (3) classes: — 

first (I St J Class: Commissioned Officers of the United States Army, Navy or 
Marine Corps, Regular or Volunteer, including Officers of assimilated rank by ap- 
pointment of the Secretary of War or Navy, who have been actually engaged in the 
suppression of the Rebellion, whether as Commissioned officers. Non-commissioned 
officers. Warrant officers, or Enlisted men. 






The eldest male lineal descendants, according to the rules of primogeniture, of 
deceased Companions of the First (1st) Class, upon attaining the age of twenty-one 
years; and if there are no descendants, male or female, then the male heirs of such 
deceased Companions in the collateral branches of their families in the order of 
genealogical succession according to the rules of primogeniture : Provided however. 
That in cases of representation through females the eldest branches shall be preferred 
to the younger, and intervening female lives through whom the inheritances would 
be deprived shall be disregarded ; that any person eligible for membership by inheri- 
tance, if he have no descendants, male or female living, may, by writing filed, waive 
und renounce his right in favor of the next entitled person ; and that in case one 
already a Companion of the Order is next in the line of inheritance from a deceased 
Companion, the eligibility of meml>ership in right of such deceased Companion 
shall devolve upon the person next entitled other than such living Companion or his 
descendants. 

The eldest male lineal descendants, according to the rules of primogeniture, of 
Officers who have been killed in battle or died while in the service of the National 
Government during the actual existence of the Rebellion, and who would have been 
eligible for membership in the Order had they survived. 

Second (2nd) Class: The eldest sons of living Companions of the First (ist) 
Class, provided they be twenty-one (21) years of age. 

Upon the death of the Companion of the First (1st) Class through whom eligi- 
bility of membership is derived, a Companion of the Second (2nd) Class shall 
become a Companion of the First (ist) Class. 

Third (3d) Class: Gentlemen in civil life, who, during the Rebellion, have 
been specially distinguished for conspicuous and consistent loyalty to the National 
Government, and who have been active and eminent in maintaining the supremacy 
of the same. 

Article VI. — Election of Members. — Sec. i. — Every application for member- 
ship shall be made in writing, signed by the applicant, who shall be recommended 
in writuig by three (3) Companions of the Commandery to which he shall apply, 
who shall vouch for the candidate's eligibility. The application shall be referred by 
the Commander to a Committee of Investigation, consisting of three (3) Companions 
of the Order, none of whom shall be of the recommending Companions. If the 
applicant be a candidate for the First (1st) Class, the Committee shall ascertain the 
date of his appointment or muster into the United States service, and if discharged, 
the date of the same, and the reasons therefor. In all cases, they shall make a care- 
ful examination of his standing and moral character, and shall report in writing at 
the next stated meeting of the Commandery. 



Sec. 3. — A Companion-elect of the First (ist), Second (2nd) or Third (3rd) 
Class, before being admitted to the ]3rivileges of membership, shall subscribe to the 
Constitution and By-Laws of the Order; pay an admission fee of at least twenty-five 
dollars ($25.00) which shall entitle him, during membership, to a Diploma, Badge 
and Ribbon. .5(.^(.^t***.j^* 

Provided, That Companions-elect of the Order who may be stationed or who 
may reside at a distance too great to be present at the stated meeting of their Com- 
mandery next succeeding their election, and who are thus unavoidably prevented from 
complying in full with the above requirements, may, in lieu thereof, make in writing 
the recjuisite declaration of membership. 



Article ^\\.— Membership. — SiYx:. 5.— In case of the death of a Comiianion, 
his heirs shall be entitled to retaia possession of his Diploma, Badge and Ribbon. 

II. The Order extends throughout the United States, and was 
instituted April 15, 1865, to commemorate the services and the mem- 
ory of Officers of the Army and Navy, who aided in maintaining the 
honour, integrity and supremacy of the National Government, in the 
Rebellion of 1861-65. 

John P. Nicholson, 

Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel U. S. V., 
Recorder, 
ijg South Seventh Street, 

Philadelphia, Penna. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 

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